Scientists Want More Children

Abstract

Scholars partly attribute the low number of women in academic science to the impact of the science career on family life. Yet, the picture of how men and women in science – at different points in the career trajectory – compare in their perceptions of this impact is incomplete. In particular, we know little about the perceptions and experiences of junior and senior scientists at top universities, institutions that have a disproportionate influence on science, science policy, and the next generation of scientists. Here we show that having fewer children than wished as a result of the science career affects the life satisfaction of science faculty and indirectly affects career satisfaction, and that young scientists (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) who have had fewer children than wished are more likely to plan to exit science entirely. We also show that the impact of science on family life is not just a woman's problem; the effect on life satisfaction of having fewer children than desired is more pronounced for male than female faculty, with life satisfaction strongly related to career satisfaction. And, in contrast to other research, gender differences among graduate students and postdoctoral fellows disappear. Family factors impede talented young scientists of both sexes from persisting to research positions in academic science. In an era when the global competitiveness of US science is at risk, it is concerning that a significant proportion of men and women trained in the select few spots available at top US research universities are considering leaving science and that such desires to leave are related to the impact of the science career on family life. Results from our study may inform university family leave policies for science departments as well as mentoring programs in the sciences.

The missing women in STEM? Assessing gender differentials in the factors associated with transition to first jobs

“…Such attempts could have important ramifications for the STEM pipeline – from increasing the proportion of women completing degrees in STEM fields like engineering, to elevating the odds of transitioning into first occupations, and reducing transitions out of the STEM field (Ayre et al, 2013; Glass et al, 2013). Such efforts may also help retain family oriented male scientists, who express reservations about remaining in STEM if that requires sacrificing their family involvement (Ecklund and Lincoln, 2011). …”

“… 5 Research on a recent cohort of scientists in graduate school and post-doctoral fellowships found that men were also negatively affected by long term work expectations and occupational decision making (Ecklund and Lincoln, 2011). Young male scientists who had not reached their desired number of children were more likely to plan to exit science entirely than men who had attained their fertility desires, as well as women who have not reached their fertility goals.…”

Systems of Career Influences: A Conceptual Model for Evaluating the Professional Development of Women in Academic Medicine

“…The professional specialties that are traditionally most incongruent with societal expectations for women, such as engineering and surgery, show the greatest disparities in men's and women's advancement. In surveys of faculty in the sciences 19 and medicine, 20 work satisfaction is generally lower among women than among men. Advancement is usually slower, and salaries are often lower for women than for men.…”

Inequality quantified: Mind the gender gap

“…Furthermore, women who do become faculty members in astronomy, physics and biology tend to have fewer children than their male colleagues -1.2 versus 1.5, on averageand also have fewer children than they desire 5 . In response to these concerns, many universities have taken steps to establish familyfriendly policies such as providing child-care assistance and extending tenure clocks for new…”